Lauren Chiarchiaro

EEU 390
Rationale
February 25, 2017

Author Study Unit

This unit titled Author Study: Oliver Jeffers is geared toward a 3rd grade class. The unit
will integrate different academic disciplines to ensure students reach their full potential when
learning about the author. The specifics of this unit are how to analyze the relationship between
text and illustrations, the history of Ireland and its traditions (Oliver Jeffers birthplace), and how
to examine character traits.
Students will take part in various hands-on activities to learn about an author and the
bodies of work they have created. First, students will investigate the relationship between text
and illustrations within a piece of literature. They will participate in a book tasting to introduce
the unit. The students will document their favorite stories, their least favorite stories and
why/why not. The students will analyze illustrations in the story by looking at the mediums used
and discussing the important of the artwork to the story. The students will also learn about Oliver
Jeffers artistic process and how his work impacts the story being told. Then, the students will
research the history of Ireland and its traditions. The students will be greeted with a classroom
set up like an airplane. They will watch a video displaying Irelands landscape and discuss the
different feature they saw. Then, the students will work with a group to research an assigned
piece of Irish traditions, making a travel brochure to present to the class. The next day, the
students will examine character traits, comparing and contrasting two different characters from
two books written by Oliver Jeffers. The third-grade students will draw the character they were
assigned. Then, they will write physical and emotional characteristics of the character. Lastly,
they will be paired with another group with the opposite character and complete a venn diagram
to present to the class.
The Pennsylvania Department of Education Standards (CC.1.3.3.H) says students must
be able to, compare and contrast the themes, setting, and plots of stories written by the same
author about the same or similar characters. Students will achieve this standard through
discussion and critical thinking throughout this unit.
By the end of this unit, students will be able to describe the relationship between text and
illustrations and how they impact the story, traditions and history associated with Ireland and
compare two characters in a piece of literature by analyzing character traits. This content is an
important base in students ability to thoroughly analyze literature.